Chapter 21

CHAPTER 21

MISSION EUPHORIA: THE END

"Aur dhyaan rakhna. Zyaada bewakoofi waale kaam mat karna."

Karan rolled his eyes. "Haan, Bhaiya. Dhyaan rakhunga."

"Achha, aur-"

"Bhaiya... relax. Pehla mission nahi hai mera. Aur sirf ek raid hi toh hai. Jaayenge, maarenge, aur waapas aa jaayenge. Completely in our control."

Param sighed a little. "Pata hai mujhe. Par jaise hi raid khatam hogi, tu sabse pehle mujhe call karke yeh bataayega ki tu theek hai."

"Aapka bas chale toh aap mujhe har ghante call karoge yeh puchhne ke liye ki main abhi bhi zinda hoon ya nahi."

"Bas... dhyaan rakhna, Karan."

"Haan. Bhabhi aur Baby kahan hai?"

"Baby ko ice cream khaani thi, toh Barkha use paas waali shop tak lekar gayi hai."

He sat down on the bed, grabbing his socks. He balanced the phone between his cheek and shoulder, as he pulled them on. "Unhe pata hai kya ki main raid lead kar raha hoon?"

"Nahi. Jab ho jaayegi, toh bata dunga. Barkha bekaar mein chinta karegi."

He hummed, grabbing his boots. "Bhaiya, main baad mein call karta hoon. Taiyaar hona hai, aur last minute cheezen ek baar check karni hai."

"Theek hai. Aur sun, call nahi, toh kam se kam ek message toh bhej hi dena."

"Haan, Bhaiya. Call hi kar lunga. Bye." He let the phone slip down, falling on the bed, as he laced his boots up. "Kya kya karna hai?" He muttered to himself. "Faizi se baat karni hai, Sanju se baat karni hai. Raghav aur Tanya se bhi ek baar confirm karna hai. Plan revise karna hai. Euphoria ke andar kya chal raha hai, ek baar woh update leni hai. Aur kuchh?"

A knock made him look up. Mrs. Batra.

Karan stood up. She smiled at him, walking in. She lightly fixed his t-shirt, brushing away the invisible specks of dust. "Tu itne saalon mein itne missions kar chuka hai", she said, "phir bhi jab bhi jaata hai, alag sa garv mehsoos hota hai mujhe." She brushed his black locks from his forehead. She caressed his face softly, smiling. "Jaa, mere sher. Shikaar karke aa." He chuckled slightly.

'Jab main badha hunga, toh main bhi soldier banuga', a 5 year old Karan declared, swinging his legs as he sat over the counter.

'Haan, mere sher', Mrs. Batra said, smiling at him. She held out the spoon in front of his mouth. 'Chal, muh khol.'

'Nahi, sher nahi, ma'am', he protested. 'Soldier!'

'Sher aur soldier mein zyaada farak nahi hota. Jaise solider mission par jaata hai, waise hi sher shikaar par jaata hai. Jaise sher jab aata hai, toh sab bhaag jaate hain, waise hi jab tu jaayega, na, toh saare terrorists tujhse darkar bhaag jaayenge.'

'Jab main shikaar karne jaunga?' He laughed at the thought.

She laughed slightly. 'Haan, mere sher. Jab tu shikaar karne jaayega, unn terrorists ka. Ab chal, jaldi se muh khol. Sher ko bhook lagi hai, na?' He opened his mouth, and Mrs. Batra fed him the bite.

'Chhote!' A 16 year old Param said, crossing his arms. 'Apna khaana khud khaa sakta hai, na, tu? Tang mat kar ma'am ko. Khud khaa.'

'Nahi', he protested.

'Idhar aa. Main khilaata hoon. Ma'am ko aur bhi kaam hain.'

He scowled. 'Nahi.' He looked at Mrs. Batra. 'Please, ma'am? Khilaa do, na?'

She smiled at him. 'Param, khaane de, na, use mere haath se. Mujhe ise khilaana achha lagta hai. Aur itne pyaar se puchh raha hai, main kaise mana kar doon? Tu zyaada jal mat. Main tujhe bhi khilaa dungi.' Karan laughed. 'Bhaiya jal raha hai, na?'

He nodded. 'Haan, jal raha hai.' He opened his mouth again, pointing to the plate.

Karan bent down, touching her feet. She kept a hand on his head. "Jeeta reh." He straightened up. His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he took it out. Sanju. He glanced at Mrs. Batra. "Jaa. Dhyaan rakhna apna."

---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---

"What the hell?" Karan muttered.

"Yeh kahan se tapak gaye?" Faizi muttered back. He leaned over his shoulder, looking into the laptop. "Academy mein koi aisi activity toh thi nahi. Inhe kaise pata chal gaya? Spy ka kaam hai ya phir coincidence?"

"Coincidence ke poore chances hain. Aur kahin security zyaada nahi hai, sirf yeh do log hain yahan." The two were sitting in the jeep outside Euphoria, hidden by the night in the cover of the trees. Karan grabbed the radio. "Teams, change of plans. Alpha, Bravo, retain positions. Charlie, report." He tossed the radio back on the seat of the jeep, inspecting the live footage.

"Kya soch rahe ho?"

"Humaari problem yeh guards hain", he said, pointing to the two stationed at the back entrance. "Yeh nikal jaaye toh pehle waala plan execute karne mein koi problem nahi honi chahiye. Yeh kaam Sanju karegi."

There was a tap on the jeep and the two men hopped down from the jeep. There were six people in each of the three groups, and then, Karan and Faizi.

"Change of plans." He grabbed the laptop, opening it and pointing to the back entrance. "Yahan log hain. Hone nahi chahiye", Karan explained. "Sanju, tu inn logon se deal karegi. Do log hain. Chup chaap aur jaldi, raaste se hata. Kisi ko pata nahi chalna chahiye." He inspected the men. "You and you." He pointed to two commandos. "Mask upar and no hoodie. Tum dono inn dono ke jaise thoda resemble karte ho. Sanju unhe raaste se hatayegi and you both will take their places. Clear?"

"Yes sir", they said.

"Baaki teenon, bahar rahoge. Jab open fire hogi, toh tum dono"- he pointed to the ones he had asked to replace as guards- "aur tum dono"- he pointed to another two- "yahin bahar rahoge. Koi bhi nahi jaana chahiye. Detain them, par agar zaroorat padhe, toh shoot. Is that clear?"

"Yes, sir", they said.

"Take positions, and stand by." Karan grabbed the laptop again. He pulled up the map of the vents again. "Faizi... vents bahut badhe hain, toh tu aaram se fit ho jaayega. Par waapas aane mein, you have to be quick. Agar inhone vent mein fire kara, toh bahut chance hai ki goli tujhe lagegi. Two shots, maximum. In dono ko maarna." He pointed to two people who were guarding the leader. "Yeh inke main fighters hain. Inhe raaste se hatao, inki defending and offending power dono kaafi affect hongi. Two shots, chaahe lage ya miss hoon, seedha bahar."

"Haan, Karan. Tum das baar yeh bol chuke ho", he said. He kept a hand on his shoulder. "Tum chinta mat karo. Hume kuchh nahi hoga."

'Please, Bhagwaan ji, Karan Sir, Faizi Sir aur Sanju ma'am ko safe rakhna. Sab commandos ko safe rakhna jo jaa rahe hain.'

'Haan, kuchh nahi hoga', Karan thought. 'Kisi ne sacche mann se dua maangi hai. Bhagwaan kaise nahi sunenge?'

He nodded and grabbed the radio. "Alpha, firing start hote hi evacuate the civilians. Bravo, take position for offense." He grabbed the headsets, giving one to Faizi. He pulled it out, putting the ear com in his ear.

"Kartavyah, sahaas v balidaan. Desh ke khaatir, desh ke naam. Desh ki mitti saraakhon par. Desh se hai apni pehchaan. Jai Hind", Karan muttered to himself. He pulled his mask up, covering his face.

It was show time.

---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---

"Jai Maa Bhavaani."

Sanju pulled the mask over her nose, flicking her hoodie on. She ducked down close to the window, peeking in. The two were pacing back and forth. She pulled herself up, quietly jumping in when their backs were turned.

She grabbed the one closest to her, covering his mouth. He squeaked in surprise. The other guard whipped around just in time to see the first one fall to the ground, his neck twisted at an odd angle. He opened his mouth. She lunged up, tackling him down to the ground.

He hit the ground with an 'oof', and Sanju's gaze snapped up, glancing around as she slapped a hand over his mouth tightly. Did someone hear it? He struggled underneath her and she grunted in surprise when he bit her. She shoved her fist in his face harshly. She pushed him to his stomach, grabbing his neck and giving it a sharp jerk.

She stood up. She quickly opened the back door, letting the rest of the members of Charlie in. A minute later, and the dead bodies had been dragged out, their 'guards' standing there.

She retreated back, ducking into the shadows. "Sir ji, all clear", she muttered into the ear com.

---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---

Faizi pulled himself up, crawling into the vent. 'Yeh kahan kahan phasna padta hai', he thought, as he pushed through. He peeked in when he reached the end, checking if it was the right room.

It was.

He narrowed his eyes, mentally mapping the positions of the people. He tilted his head slightly, aiming at the first fighter. "In position", he muttered into his ear com.

"Faizi, hold", Karan said back. "Alpha, in position?"

"Yes sir!"

"Bravo, in position?"

"Yes sir!"

"Charlie, in position?"

"Yes sir!"

"Okay, Faizi. Go for it."

Faizi pulled the trigger. The shot caught the first fighter straight in the head. He immediately aimed for the second, pausing just enough to see him drop down before he started to crawl back quickly.

He ducked instinctively as he heard the bullets hit metal behind him. He turned the corner quickly. "I'm out", he said into the ear com. Karan would have wanted to hear that confirmation. He glanced out of the vent. It was just their commandos. He pushed it open, hopping down quickly before racing in with the Charlie members.

"Sir ji", Sanju said, nodding for him to lead.

---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---

Karan kicked the door open, pulling the trigger and catching the person right in front of him. It was a pandemonium inside. He glanced around, quickly taking into account the number and position of the people and he ducked behind some boxes as the terrorists opened fire too.

"Take cover", someone yelled.

His eyes registered Faizi and Sanju jog in, their commandos immediately ducking and taking cover too. He switched the ear com radio on. "Status on civilians?"

"Evacuation in progress", the Alpha leader- Raghav- said.

"Copy that. Jaldi karo. Bravo, Charlie, ek bhi bahar nahi jaana chahiye."

"Sir!"

He peeked out from behind the boxes, throwing himself back down just in time. A bullet flew over his head. He paused, waiting for a few more seconds, before peeking out again.

He pulled the trigger, catching someone in the arm. "If possible, leader ko mat marna", he said into the ear com. "We need him for information."

"Copy that, Sir!"

It was almost 20 minutes later that silence finally descended. He stood up, gun out. Some terrorists laid dead, and some with gunshot injuries. The guns were kicked away from them, and Karan moved closer to the leader. Faizi flanked him, his gun out and pointed as well.

"Hands up", Faizi said. "Warna, jaan se jaoge."

The leader glared at them. "Tum logon ko lagta hai ki hume maar kar humaari organization ko khatam kar doge? Bahut badhi hai humaari organization. Badla lene aayegi aur ek ek ko chun chun kar maaregi."

"Suna hai yeh sab", Karan said. "Kuchh nayi baat bol. Apni organization ke baare mein muh khol. Aur kisi cheez mein koi interest nahi hai hume."

"Hoga", he said. "Jab mere log aayenge. Sirf tumhe nahi maarenge, tumhaare parivaaron ko bhi maarenge. Tadpa tadpa kar maarenge. Tumhaare saamne unhe khatam karenge aur tum kuchh nahi kar paoge. Aur phir tumhe khatam karenge."

Karan's eyes darkened. The leader glared right back, before he produced a knife from his back pocket. Karan pulled the trigger, just before he reeled his hand back to throw the knife, and the leader fell over. Blood oozed out of his blown up head.

Mission Euphoria was a success.

---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---

The buckle of the belt screeched slightly as it was dragged along the floor. Monami pushed herself closer to the wall, staring at the hand that held the belt. She screwed her eyes shut, covering her head. She pushed herself closer. She wanted to disappear.

There was a screech of pain. Her head snapped up, looking around. She gasped, stumbling back. Pained and empty eyes stared back at her.

The trainers.

Sanju and Faizi laid lifeless, blood oozing out of them and pooling underneath them. Their dead gaze bore into her, unblinkingly haunting. Karan's pained eyes stared at her, his back shredded. She cringed, recoiling. Her eyes welled up with tears and she crawled forward.

Chains restricted her and she stared quizzically at them. Where did they come from?

A gasp made her gaze lift, just in time to see Karan's eyes slide close. "No", she whispered. "Karan Sir!" She tugged on the chains. She could help him. She could do something. She was a doctor. She could do something. Right? She strained against the chains.

She let out a frustrated scream. The person appeared again. She flinched as the belt was slammed down on Karan's back, and he yelled in pain.

"Karan!"

Monami shot up in bed. It was dark. Was she there? She looked around the blurry room. Where was Karan? Where were Sanju and Faizi? Were they really dead? Where was Karan? She could save him. She could help him. She could stop the bleeding, she could treat the wound; she could do something.

She blinked. No. No, she wasn't there. It was... it was a dream.

It was just a dream.

A horrible, horrible dream, but a dream. She clutched the blanket close. Her breaths were loud, she could hear it now. Just like her heartbeat pounding in her ears. Her sweaty clothes clung to her and salty tears raced down her cheeks. She took a deep breath.

It was just her imagination. Her stupid, overactive, horrible imagination.

---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---

"Sir ji, hum theek hogo", Sanju said as she limped in. "Sab so gayo honge, kal subah check-up karwaa lenge."

"Tune pehle kyun nahi bola?" Karan asked. "Hospital mein nahi bandage karwaana, toh yahan bol deta hoon." He glanced at his watch. "12 hi toh baje hain. Thodi si der mein ho jaayega."

"Sanju... karwaa lo, na", Faizi said.

She sighed, nodding. She had gotten her foot stuck under a heavy crate, and while she had managed to get it off of her foot, it was only well after some time that she realized that the pain wasn't dulling, only growing.

Karan clutched her arm quickly when she stumbled a little. "Hum call karte hain", Faizi said, turning the corner. He gasped suddenly, stumbling back. The other two glanced up, finding Monami to be just as wide eyed at their sudden appearance.

"Monami?" Faizi said. "Tum yahan kya kar rahi ho? Lights out ho chuka hai. Kamre mein kyun nahi ho?"

"W-Washroom j-jaana tha", she murmured.

Karan eyed her. Was it just him or did she seem a little on edge? He narrowed her eyes, looking closer. Was she crying? Her eyebrows furrowed. Did someone say something to her?

"Ma'am, aapka p-pair", Monami said, her eyes widening.

"Hum theek hogo", Sanju said.

"Monami, tum uthi hi hui ho, toh tum Sanju ka check-up kar dogi?" Faizi asked. "Hum doctor ko call hi karne waale the. Jab tak koi aayega, tab tak tum kar bhi dogi."

"Sir ji, use sona bhi toh hogo", Sanju protested. "Kal drill bhi hai."

"Nahi. M-Mujhe koi p-problem n-nahi hai. Ch-Chalo. Infirmary mein k-kar d-deti hoon."

Karan and Faizi leaned against a wall as they watched quietly. Sanju had her leg propped up, and Monami was carefully inspecting it, poking at seemingly random places.

'Yeh ro rahi thi?' Karan thought, tilting his head slightly. 'Kyun? Kisi ne kuchh kaha? Upset lag rahi thi. Yaa... nightmares? Washroom bhi muh dhone gayi hogi.'

"Sp-Sprain hai", Monami declared. She grabbed a spray from the first aid box. She shook it a little, before spraying it on her ankle. She wrapped it up carefully. "J-Jitna k-kam ho s-sake, utna k-kam p-pressure d-daalna ispar. And RICE m-method f-follow karna." Karan frowned. Rice? As in... the grain?

"Chaawal ke daane ka peechha karno hai?" Sanju asked in confusion. "Kaahe ke laane? Aur kaise?"

"R-I-C-E. R-Rest, ice, c-compression, el-elevation."

Her face cleared in understanding and she nodded. "Chalo, Sanju. Hum tumhe tumhaare kamre tak chodh aate hain", Faizi said. He clutched her arm, helping her walk.

"K-Karan Sir", Monami called, when he started to turn around too. "B-Baitho." His eyebrows furrowed. "C-Cut." She pointed to his elbow. He turned it over. It was a long cut- spanning over the back of his entire forearm- but not necessarily deep. He hadn't even noticed it.

"Monami, deep nahi hai. Khud hi theek ho jaayega. Zaroorat nahi hai iski."

She wordlessly took some cotton out. He heaved a sigh, sitting down. She gently cleaned it out, dabbing it with soft hands. "W-Wound ko s-saaf h-hamesha k-karna chahiye", she muttered. "I-Infection h-hone ke k-kam ch-chance ho j-jaate hain. Sh-Shallow w-wounds mein bhi ch-chance toh hai hi, ch-chaahe kam hi s-sahi."

He hummed. He tilted his head. "Tum ro rahi thi kya?" He asked softly.

She paused. Her bloodshot eyes met with his. She dropped her head. She didn't want to talk. He let it go. "I am g-glad aap sab th-theek hain."

'Tumne hi itne sacche mann se maanga tha, Monami. Itne mann se kuchh puchhogi, toh bhagwaan bhi kaise hi mana kar paayenge tumhe?'

---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---

Karan tapped the desk. "Ab aage kya karna hai?" He asked.

The three were in Sanju's room, having temporarily asked Monami to leave to give them privacy. They had wanted Sanju to move around as less as possible.

"Jo zinda hain, un mein se aadhon se zyaada ko toh kuchh pata nahi", Faizi said. "Kuchh abhi behosh hain, bolne ki haalat mein nahi hai. Ek baar hosh aaye, toh hum interrogate karenge. Army hospital mein hi hain, aur humne commandos ko alert kar diya hai."

"Evidence mein kya mila?" Karan asked.

He shrugged, shaking his head. "Kuchh beads mile hain zameen par, shayad kisi ke bracelet ya necklace ya kisi cheez ke, kapdon ke tukre, ek ring, kuchh fingerprints. Par hume nahi lagta in mein se kuchh bhi aisa hai jisse kuchh mil sakta hai. Sab in logon ke hi lag rahe hain jinhe hum pakad chuke hain."

He tapped his fingers on the desk. He sighed a little. "Yeh dead end hai kya iske baad? Agli lead ka intezaar karna padega?"

"Sir ji, hum thoda todto hain kisi ko. Kuchh toh batayenge", Sanju said. "EFR ke baare mein sab bakenge."

Karan shook his head. "Faida nahi hai, Sanju. Yeh log sab gunde hain. Inhe toh yeh bhi nahi pata ki inki organization ki full form kya hai. Humne jitna socha tha, yeh usse bahut chhota racket tha. Inn mein se agar kisi ko kuchh bhi pata tha, toh woh inn sab ka leader tha. Par woh toh mar gaya." He held up a finger. "Ek kaam karo. Informers ko active karo. Euphoria ke baare mein jitni baat ho rahi hai, sab bataayein. Chhoti, badhi, sab kuchh."

"Par Karan, abhi toh Euphoria ke baare mein bahut baatein ho rahi hongi. News mein aa raha hai."

He nodded. "Ho rahi hongi. Inhi sab baaton ke beech mein se shayad hume koi clue mil jaaye."

Faizi sighed. "Aur toh koi option dikh nahi raha hume bhi. Warna, yeh lead toh dead hi hai." Sanju nodded in agreement.

The door suddenly opened, and Karan's hand flew to his gun. Siddharth froze, his foot hovering mid air as he registered the three trainers. He took a step back. "Sorry", he said sheepishly.

"Cadet Siddharth Ganju, aapko knock karna nahi aata?" Karan asked. His forehead creased into a scowl. "Aur yeh ladkiyon ka kamra hai. Aise hi aa jaate ho tum? What if they are indecent? Change kar rahi ho toh?"

"Woh... Monu aur Sanju ma'am dono lock karte hain jab woh change karte hain", he answered. "Aur main Monu ke kamre mein aise hi ghus jaata tha, toh aadat hai, and yahan par bhi woh hi, but Sanju ma'am ne kabhi protest nahi kara. Karti toh I would have taken care. I promise. Main aisa ladka nahi hoon. Aur-"

"Siddharth, relax", Faizi said. "Par agar darwaaza band hai, tab toh kam se kam knock kar liya karo. Aage se dhyaan rakhna."

"Sir", he said, nodding.

"Kya chahiye tumhe?" Karan asked.

He paused. "Woh maine suna tha Sanju ma'am ko chot lagi hai. Toh main bas unka haal puchhne aaya tha." Karan's eyes darted to her, raising his eyebrows in surprise at her pleased look. He glanced at Faizi. He had a hint of a smile too. "Par main baad mein aata hoon. You continue."

"Siddharth", Faizi said. "Ruko. Hum jaa hi rahe the. Tum kar lo baat."

"Ab yeh kya chal raha hai?" Karan asked, as the two men walked back to their room.

Faizi grinned, shrugging. "Pata nahi. Par hume lag raha hai ki kuchh toh chal raha hai. Aur agar abhi nahi chal raha, toh kabhi na kabhi, toh zaroor chalega."

He flicked his eyebrows up in agreement. "Mujhe bhi yeh hi lag raha hai. Bet mat lagaana iss baat par. Sanju ka koi bharosa nahi."

"Woh bhi hai." Faizi grinned. "Waise... kal raat Monami Tsunami se tumne bandage karwaa li? Aise toh tumhe bilkul achha nahi lagta."

He rolled his eyes. "Usne insist kara, isliye karwaa li."

"Achha? Aise toh koi bhi insist karta hai, toh tumhe koi farak nahi padta. Koi tumse woh kaam nahi karwaa sakta, jo tumhe nahi karna hai. Par Monami ne insist kara, toh tum maan gaye?"

Karan heaved a sigh. "Tu meri chodh, apni soch. Koel ko date par puchha hai, na? Kahan lekar jaayega, kab lekar jaayega, woh soch."

"Tum batao, na? Kahan lekar jaayein?"

"Mujhse kya puchh raha hai?"

"Arey, tum toh Deolali mein hi badhe hue ho. Tumhe toh chappa chappa pata hai. Batao, na?"

He sighed. "Tu kya karega mere bina? Chal. Help karwaata hoon." Faizi grinned. "Waise, yeh tera department nahi hai? Aur tujhe aur koi nahi mila help maangne ke liye?"

"Karan..."

"Haan, kar toh raha hoon help. Bacchon ki tarah rona mat shuru ho jaaya kar. Gadha."